Under the Agreed Programme for Government we are committed to supporting achievement of a single EU market in insurance. The road map towards that end has been agreed at EU level, on the basis of endorsement by the member states and the European Parliament, of the financial services action plan proposed by the European Commission with a view to the creation of a single market for financial services, including insurance. Together the member states and the European Parliament have set out to have the necessary legislation fully implemented by 2005.
Specific steps taken already in relation to insurance are, earlier this year, adoption of the Directives on solvency margins for life and non-life insurance undertakings. A specific step currently under examination is the proposed directive on insurance mediation. In all of these the Irish Government is participating constructively.